In state of the state, Healey attacks Trump’s enforcement agency — and draws some criticism as well

Mass General Brigham is committed to world-class care backed by the latest advances in medical research. Innovation across our system delivers the best possible outcomes and enhances the patient experience.

A bit of advice sometimes handed out by public relations professionals goes like this: Don’t answer the question that was asked, answer the question you want asked.

When a reporter asked Gov. Maura Healey earlier this month about federal funding for so-called sanctuary cities, she quickly turned to a much hotter topic: Criticizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

That turned out to be an early preview of her official campaign launch earlier this week, which included a video with footage of ICE agents pulling people out of cars, as well as her state of the state speech delivered last night.

She talked around President Trump in her speech last year. On Thursday night, mentions of Trump were up, with a side of ICE. “The Trump administration, right now, is sending masked agents by the thousands into cities and states,” Healey said Thursday night. “A woman is dead, others have been shot, innocent people detained, mothers and fathers ripped out of their cars with young children crying, pulling at their sides.” 

The ICE lines drew applause from a State House chamber full of fellow Democrats. As he stood up to clap, Winchester Sen. Jason Lewis unsuccessfully tried to coax House Minority Leader Brad Jones and other GOP lawmakers into joining in.

The speech also included proposals to place limits on social media companies that target minors and to ban medical debt from credit reports. But by the end, both the left and right were out with statements saying they failed to hear any bold proposals and gave varying assessments of her ICE comments.

There are available bills that could end the state’s formal and informal collaboration with ICE agents, said Jonathan Cohn of Progressive Massachusetts. “New legislation has been filed to protect court houses and to impose penalties on ICE agents wearing masks,” Cohn said, referring to a bill proposed by Sen. Lydia Edwards (D-East Boston). “The governor offered nothing.”

Brian Shortsleeve, one of the three GOP candidates for governor, showed up inside the State House to greet reporters as Healey wrapped up her speech. “I'm running for governor. I'm not running for president,” he said when asked about Healey’s ICE comments. “What the governor should be focused on is making the state more affordable, getting businesses to stay here, getting young people to stay here. And I didn't hear a lot of proposals about that tonight.”

Jones, the Republican minority leader who hails from a different wing of the GOP, had a slightly different answer. “I would be much more accepting of her criticisms of ICE if the same level of passion was displayed against the [Biden] administration when migrants were costing billions of dollars here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that we're all going to need now, going into the months ahead.”

Jones also answered the question that a reporter asked, on whether the videos of ICE agents smashing windows and dragging people out of cars disturbed him.

“I don't think anybody can look at what some of the things that ICE has done in certain states and jurisdictions and be happy with that,” he said. “And again, we've seen this course correction from a policy of open borders to ‘round everybody up and throw them out.’ I'm much more someone who believes that we need a more centrist, middle-of-the-road approach.”

My colleagues at State House News Service have more on Healey’s speech here. The answer to yesterday’s trivia question: The last Massachusetts governor to lose reelection was Ed King, in a 1982 rematch with the man he tossed out four years earlier, Mike Dukakis. If you have any war stories from that campaign, which back then the New York Times called the “most expensive” gubernatorial primary in state history and “one of the bitterest,” send them along here: [email protected].

On FanDuel, sports fans can enjoy the confidence that comes with being in control of their betting journey by setting limits that make sense for them and by using the My Spend dashboard to track progress. Learn how fans can create a responsible betting strategy for playoffs that fits their lifestyle. 

9:30 | Second day of the Massachusetts Municipal Association's Connect 351 conference features a keynote address at 9:30 a.m. from Timothy Shriver, chair of the Special Olympics. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is also slated to speak. Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll scheduled to speak at around 11 a.m. | Menino Convention & Exhibition Center, 415 Summer St., Boston | More Info

….Friday marks the deadline to enroll in insurance coverage through the Mass. Health Connector. It's been a tumultuous cycle, after enhanced premium tax credits expired Dec. 31. Gov. Healey announced Jan. 8 the state would invest an additional $250 million into heavily subsidized ConnectorCare plans, ensuring 270,000 residents earning between 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level would see little to no premium increases….

NOTE: Due to forecasted inclement weather, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Keller @ Large LIVE program with Senator Elizabeth Warren scheduled for Monday, January 26, at the MCLE. All tickets will be refunded, and we look forward to rescheduling this fireside chat for a later date.

Jobs continue below the fold — post a job

Your City Your Future, the Josh Kraft super PAC, closed out 2025 with debt on its books, according to an end-of-year filing with campaign finance regulators. The super PAC pulled in – and spent – millions from executives like Thermo Fisher’s Marc Casper, Suffolk’s John Fish and Fanatics’ Michael Rubin. The filing shows a debt of $155,714 to Mintz Levin, though it doesn’t detail what it’s for. The super PAC faced scrutiny earlier in the race over campaign coordination allegations, which all involved denied. Campaign finance regulators typically do not confirm or deny investigations. In its year-end filing, the super PAC also listed an in-kind contribution, worth $20,000, from Will Austin, for consulting. Austin has been involved with Roxbury Prep charter school, written for the Boston Globe, and is the author of Boston Focus, a newsletter on education….

….It’s looking like a busy primary season for Senate President Karen Spilka’s political operation. A Spilka campaign adviser sent a fundraising email in November calling the reelection of West Roxbury Sen. Mike Rush her highest electoral priority. Rush is facing a challenger from his left, Persis Yu. That email was dated around Thanksgiving, and things have significantly escalated since then: Both Sens. William Brownsberger (Belmont with part of Boston) and Nick Collins (South Boston and Dorchester) are facing challengers Daniel Lander and Latoya Gayle, who have slammed the pair for blocking Mayor Michelle Wu’s property tax shift. Milton Sen. Bill Driscoll has also drawn a challenger: Mike Zullas, the town’s former select board chair who battled Driscoll in a 2016 race for state rep….

….Cape Cod Rep. Chris Flanagan isn’t just facing federal fraud charges leveled against him in 2025. If he runs for reelection he could also see a crowded Democratic primary. Steve Leibowitz, a Brewster resident with a long history in Democratic politics, going back to Barney Frank’s first congressional campaign, has jumped in, months after Chris Lambton, the Dennis select board’s chair, launched his own. The Cape has steadily turned blue over the years, and voters returned Flanagan to office in 2024 despite campaign finance regulators finding he misled them. Flanagan has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges and his case is plodding through the court….

….Zdeno Chara, the captain of the Boston Bruins for 14 seasons, will get JetBlue’s C33 gate dedicated to him in a ceremony similar to what David Ortiz (No. 34) received in 2016. Massport plans to install some old TD Garden seats, as well as a plaque and framed jersey. Chara is slated to attend the Jan. 29 ceremony, as is Massport CEO Rich Davey and JetBlue president Marty St. George. The Bruins retired his number at a separate ceremony earlier this month, attended by House Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz (D-North End), who noted in a social media post that Chara has been a constituent.

A policy playbook for Massachusetts to win the talent race. Get it now!

ENERGY AFFORDABILITY: House Democrats continued to grapple with energy affordability issues in private meetings on possible legislation. "There isn't enough that you can give these people off the bill, with our tools, that's significant to have an impact. That's the reality," House Speaker Ron Mariano said. – State House News Service

MBTA BUDGET: As the T forecasts big deficits, GM Phil Eng called the projections a “snapshot in time” as advocates suggest state officials missed a window to fix the problem last year. – CommonWealth Beacon

ANTI-POT QUESTION: A state elections commission dismissed a long-shot objection to a ballot question that would roll back regulated sales of recreational marijuana. Pro-pot opponents of the question had challenged the signature-gathering process. – State House News Service

PROTECTIVE ORDER: A U.S. District judge in Boston who has outlined First Amendment violations by the Trump administration issued an order limiting the arrest or deportation of noncitizens in a case involving international students. – Boston Globe

NEW BEDFORD SURPRISE: Boston wasn’t the only place for city government drama this month. “Eleventh hour deal-making” in New Bedford led to the surprise choice of Mayor Jon Mitchell’s candidate for School Committee in a joint convention. – New Bedford Light

QUINCY EDIFICE COMPLEX: The case of the controversial saint statutes, which Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch is seeking to install on a new public safety building, is headed to the Supreme Judicial Court. – Patriot Ledger

SALT SHORTAGES: As Massachusetts stares down a winter storm that could bring one to two feet of snow, some Worcester County towns may not have enough salt, or plow drivers. – WCVB

Boston’s economic chief explains why he’s leaving City Hall

TimeOut Market in Fenway to stay open through last-minute landlord deal

Vineyard Wind project has led to more than 3,700 jobs, report says

@ ISSUE SIT DOWN: 9:30 a.m., NBC 10. Reporter Matt Prichard interviews South Boston Sen. Nick Collins.

ON THE RECORD: 11 a.m., WCVB. John Deaton, GOP candidate for U.S. Senate, is the guest.

Do you have an open job you'd like to feature here? Click here to place a job board order, or email Dylan Rossiter at [email protected].

Director, Bureau of Program Integrity, Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General

Executive Director, Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition

District Director, Office of Boston City Council President Liz Breadon

Policy Director, Office of Boston City Council President Liz Breadon

Transportation Engineer, Public Works, City of Newton

Senior HR Manager for Training & DEI Programs, Mass Gaming Commission

Senior Economic Justice Attorney with Focus on Safety Net Programs, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute

Research Associate, Worcester Regional Research Bureau

Human Resources Assistant, Town of Acton

Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General

Treasury Manager, Massachusetts Housing Partnership

VIEW ALL JOBS